Championship Review: Analyzing the Landscape as the Season Reaches its Crucial Finale

With two additional rounds of Championship fixtures now concluded, the battles for promotion, playoffs, and relegation have taken significant twists as the season enters its final stretch.

The chase for the automatic promotion spots remains fiercely competitive, with each of the top four teams experiencing dropped points over the past week. This unpredictability has left the race wide open with just nine matches left to play.

In addition, the fight for the two remaining playoff places is more competitive than ever, with a mere five points separating the teams in fifth and eleventh positions on the league table.

As if that wasn’t enough, the relegation battle has become increasingly unpredictable, with seven clubs genuinely at risk of falling to League One.

Promotion contenders unable to take advantage of Leeds’ misstep

The battle for promotion continues to revolve around four clubs, with Leeds, Sheffield United, and Burnley leading the charge, while Sunderland remains a contender just below them, albeit precariously.

Leeds, the outright favourites for the title, suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat to Portsmouth last weekend, with Colby Bishop scoring the only goal after a flurry of missed opportunities from Daniel Farke’s squad.

This slip provided encouragement for the chasing pack, all of whom secured crucial victories over the weekend, only to falter midweek.

Burnley, Sheffield United, and Sunderland all played to a 1-1 stalemate in their respective fixtures. Leeds soon reasserted their position at the summit, capitalising on their rivals’ setbacks with a decisive 2-0 victory against Millwall.

As we approach the end of the season with nine matches remaining, it appears to be a narrowing duel for the top two spots, while Sunderland’s chances seem to be diminishing.

The Black Cats likely need to secure wins in the majority of their remaining fixtures and hope for poor form from two of the three teams above them. While this outcome is still plausible, it becomes increasingly unlikely with each passing game.

Both Burnley and Sheffield United are poised to maintain their promotion pursuits right up until the final whistle of the season, even having a potential showdown between themselves, which could be a pivotal fixture in the quest for promotion.

Leeds, however, remain the frontrunners to make a Premier League return, and bouncing back from their disappointing defeat against Portsmouth with an authoritative victory over Millwall solidifies their status as serious title contenders.

In previous seasons, Farke’s side might have faltered after such a setback, but their stronger mentality this time around seems to dispel any fears of a ‘bottle job’ as the campaign nears its conclusion.

Intensifying playoff race

The current top four teams have created enough distance between themselves and the competition, rendering the gap of 13 points between fourth and fifth place insurmountable for lower-ranked clubs this season.

With two playoff positions still to be filled, an astonishing seven clubs find themselves in contention as the season reaches its climax.

West Brom and Coventry currently occupy fifth and sixth place, respectively, though both teams dropped points in recent matches—the Baggies sharing the spoils with Burnley in a 1-1 draw, while Coventry fell 2-0 to Derby.

Just behind, Bristol City lurk two points adrift in seventh place, followed closely by Middlesbrough, Blackburn, Watford, and Sheffield Wednesday.

A mere five points separate these seven contenders, and with 27 points remaining to play for, significant shifts in standings remain highly likely in the weeks ahead.

West Brom appear to have one of the most capable squads for a playoff challenge, with potent attacking options including Adam Armstrong, Josh Maja, Tom Fellows, and Mikey Johnston.

Meanwhile, Frank Lampard’s Coventry side is riding a wave of momentum following a streak of five consecutive victories. However, their run was halted midweek following a surprising defeat to Derby, who are embroiled in the relegation fight.

Bristol City have emerged as a dark horse, off the back of a promising run since the year’s turn, losing only two of their last 13 league matches and suggesting they could break free from recent mid-table mediocrity.

In contrast, Middlesbrough and Blackburn have exhibited too much inconsistency to be considered serious contenders for a top-six finish, while Watford and Sheffield Wednesday must build significant momentum to overcome the teams ranked above them.

Seven clubs facing relegation concerns

The current relegation struggle in the Championship is one of the most riveting we’ve seen in recent years, with seven teams at risk of dropping down a division.

Plymouth currently occupy the bottom spot, seemingly destined for relegation until the arrival of manager Miran Muselic. However, after a crucial 2-1 victory over Portsmouth, they now find themselves only three points adrift of safety.

Luton, sitting just above them, has also endured a difficult season but has shown renewed fighting spirit, managing two wins and one draw from their last five fixtures.

Derby currently completes the relegation trio but are determined to fight back, having recently claimed two victories over Blackburn and Coventry.

Among those just outside the drop zone, Cardiff and Oxford are increasingly looking vulnerable to getting sucked back into the relegation battle.

Oxford showed promise under Gary Rowett but are now without a victory in their last nine matches, seemingly losing momentum at a crucial juncture.

Cardiff are on a troubling streak of three consecutive losses, the latest being a 2-1 defeat at home to fellow relegation battlers Luton.

Other teams to monitor include Stoke and Hull. The Potters are struggling to find form under new manager Mark Robins, while Hull has enough about them to steer clear of the drop, with a commendable run of only one defeat in their last five encounters, though they still sit just five points above the relegation zone.

With the Championship known for its unexpected twists and turns, plenty of drama is likely to unfold in the final nine rounds of this gripping season.